PASTA - BAKED WITH SAUSAGE, TOMATOES, AND CHEESE

Source: MyRecipes.com

Servings: 8

This easy, cheesy pasta recipe features ziti, turkey sausage, canned tomatoes, and fresh basil. It's a perfect pasta dish for busy weeknights.

Ingredients:

1 (1-pound) package uncooked ziti (short tube-shaped pasta) 1 lb. hot turkey Italian sausage links

1 cup chopped onion

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 tablespoon tomato paste

1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

2 (14.5-ounce) cans petite-diced tomatoes, undrained

1/4 cup chopped fresh basil

Cooking spray

1 cup (4 ounces) shredded fresh mozzarella cheese 1 cup (4 ounces) grated fresh Parmesan cheese

Method:

Preheat oven to 350°. Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain the pasta, and set aside.

Remove casings from sausage. Cook sausage, onion, and garlic in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat until browned, stirring to crumble. Add the tomato paste, salt, pepper, and tomatoes, and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Combine cooked pasta, sausage mixture, and basil. Place half of the pasta mixture in a 4-quart casserole coated with cooking spray. Top with half of mozzarella and half of Parmesan. Repeat layers. Bake at 350° for 25 minutes or until bubbly.

© Barbara Deitch 2020